wanting to mix LOTS of water

[ifoundnemo]

i am looking to start mixing about 50-100 gal of saltwater at a time instead of mixing 10-15 for water changes so i have more onhand. i have seen people on here stating they use the big gray trashcans to mix their water but are you also storing it in there. will the plastic meesup the water? also to you plumb the trashcan so you can fill you tank or how do you get the water out of the can?

[mfinn]

I've been using the 45 gallon brute trash cans for my water changes for 9-10 years. You can leave the water in them for as long as you want.
I use a mag 9.5 that has a hose attached to it with a u-tube on the end of it to pump the mixed saltwater from the container back to the tank.

[Capt_Cully]

2nd that. I have a bulkhead in my Brute trash can (actually I have 3) and it's plumbed into a blue line pump for mixing and waterchanges.

[doubleduece]

DITTO ..... You can even get a lid and wheels for the BRUTE......

[ifoundnemo]

thanks for the ideas!

[IslandCrow]

I just drilled a hole in the top of my lid where I feed through some of that black sprinkler system tubing that's connected to a MAG 5 inside the trashcan and a nozzle with a gang valve on the other. It allows me to pump water straight from the trashcan into my tank without having to move a trashcan filled with water. The water usually stays in there anywhere from 3-4 weeks, but as long as you keep it covered, it should be able to last pretty much indefinitely.

[ifoundnemo]

ok so if you are pumping direct from your trashcan...how do you mesure the number of gal?

[mfinn]

You could take a 1 gallon container or a five gallon bucket and dump water in and make makes on the trash container.

[mfinn]

I usually only do water changes with full containers.
I have marks on the side of my tank that tells me exactly how many gallons I need to remove so if I want to do a small change, one container or a regular water change two containers.

[jrdoan]

Or if you do regular water changes just put a line on your sump where your tank is full. then suck out however much you want and fill back to the line. On mine I marked where it was full and 10 gallons down just so I know.

[bigmeats75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13263871#post13263871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ifoundnemo
ok so if you are pumping direct from your trashcan...how do you mesure the number of gal?


If you decide to go with the 44 gal brute here are the measurements you will need for the gallon marks. This way you can tall how many gallons you have pumped out.

I measured from the top to the bottom, Much easier. These are pretty close to being right on as far as gallons.


5 3/4---35gal mark

9---30g

12 1/4---25g

15 3/4---20g

19 3/4---15g

22 3/4---10g

26 1/4---5g

[Capt_Cully]

Cool meats!

I did the opposite. I just took a 5 gallon bucket then marked the outside of the Brute. It's now a giant graduated cylinder.

[bigmeats75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13268781#post13268781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Capt_Cully
Cool meats!

I did the opposite. I just took a 5 gallon bucket then marked the outside of the Brute. It's now a giant graduated cylinder.

We pretty much did the same thing! I took a 5 gal bucket and marked as I went I just marked the inside! I just took measurements in case the marker came off then I got smart and took my electric etcher and etched the lines. See.......... i am smarter than the average bear!